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“H-he proposed to me last night.
And tomorrow, we’re going to announce our official engagement date.”
Everyone was stunned.
Something churned in my stomach.
“When did this happen?
I thought you guys weren’t serious,” Mom queried.
“I know.
We were on and off.
There were some issues between us.
Especially with him, you know, after what happened to his family?
But he finally got the balls and proposed to me last night!
I can’t explain how happy I am.”
Her eyes shone with happy tears.
And then my gaze fell on the letter that was engraved on her ring.
“What’s the ‘V’ stand for, Tess?”
The grip of my hand tightened around the glass.
She followed my stare.
“Oh, it’s for ‘Valencian.’
Isn’t it beautiful?”
TWO: STORMY GRAY EYES
A knock landed on the door.
“You ready, honey?
Your dad is waiting downstairs.”
“Yeah, Mom.
Just give a minute,” I replied, staring at my reflection in the mirror.
“All right, come soon.”
I ran my palm over the red material clung against my skin.
It felt smooth.
Everything was perfect.
The nude makeup, the simple side-parted long hair, the off-shoulder gown with a sweetheart neckline and a semi-high slit at the side, everything was in place.
“I’m ready,” I whispered.
Grabbing my black clutch, I smoothed my hair once again and sauntered downstairs.
Warner met me at the door.
His lips parted, brown eyes looking up and down my body.
“Holy shit!
You look…” He shook his head.
“I have no words.”
I smiled.
“Thanks.
You don’t look bad yourself.”
He did look good in his three-piece suit and tie.
With his brown locks combed neatly, his jaw was clean shaved tonight.
“Shall we?”
I asked.
“Sure.
God knows, no one can take their eyes off you tonight.”
Grinning, he gave me an arm, and I took it.
Once outside, we found Mom adjusting Dad’s tie as he grunted something under his breath.
His face turned grim, spotting us together.
After Mom gushed about my looks, we all piled in the car.
Though her subtle attempt of asking me if I was feeling good didn’t go unnoticed by me after I left in the middle of dinner last night.
Jet lag was my excuse.
I knew she wanted to ensure if I was okay, not physically, but emotionally.
Everyone avoided talking about the engagement as much as possible before me.
They all had an idea of my heartbreak seven years ago.
Not all of it, though.
They weren’t aware of what happened that night.
But I wasn’t the fifteen-year-old Emerald anymore.
I was going to face the man who broke my heart years ago and see him announce his engagement with my sister before the world.
But I was all right.
It’s been years since then.
I had a boyfriend.
I’d moved on.
After last night, I hadn’t seen her.
And honestly, I didn’t want to.
Even if I didn’t care anymore, I still felt the anger and betrayal I felt that night.
After knowing everything, how could she come and announce her engagement to me as if nothing happened?
How could she…
I shook myself, not wanting to remember the past.
I am stronger now.
The past should remain in the past.
And I should be happy for her.
It’s been years, after all.
And I had overcome the past.
It doesn’t affect me now.
Not at all.
The car screeched to a halt, along with my heart.
Mom and Dad got out, and Warner followed behind.
We were here.
“Em?”
Warner called out, waiting for me outside.
Deep breaths came out of me, my hands fisted.
Heart palpitating down the chest, my mouth turned dry.
A drop of sweat trickled down my nape.
It was slipping.
The calm fa?ade, it was slipping from my control.
“Honey?
Come on, Tessa is waiting for us inside,” Mom probed.
I can do it.
Nothing happened.
I’ve moved on.
Giving her a tight nod, I gritted my teeth and scrambled out with shaky knees.
I caught Warner’s arm in a vice grip as my attention fell on the huge mansion I didn’t remember when I last visited.
“You all right?
You look a little pale,” Warner asked as we crossed the threshold.
The line I shouldn’t cross.
“I’m fine.”
My nails dug into my palm.
“Are you sure?”
I nodded, clutching him harder.
He winced but didn’t ask any further.
And I was grateful for that.
I let him drag me across the mass of people dressed in sophisticated and branded clothes.
The vast hall was sufficient to gulp the massive crowd alone.
Everything was decorated the way a party of one of the most influential families should be.
Elegant, yet dazzling.
As we passed the chatting and drinking crowd, we spotted Tess, standing beside some of her friends.
Seeing us, she excused herself and rushed to us, the tail of her silvery sparkling gown dragged behind her.
Tobias also followed.
If all their friends were here, that meant…
Tugging my hand out of Warner’s arm, I took a step back.
Glanced around, my legs urged me to run.
Go back to the safety of my room where someone couldn’t reach me.
Someone who I buried in the pit of my memories.
“Oh my God.
Look at my baby, you’re looking so beautiful!”
Mom’s voice croaked as she glanced at Dad.
“When did our daughter grew up so much, Wilson?
Look at her wearing an engagement ring today.”
She sniffled.
I averted my gaze from her ring and took a glass of wine from a passing waiter.
My hand shook around it.
Dad rubbed Mom’s back while Tess rolled her eyes.
“Mom, we’re just announcing our official engagement date.
I’m not getting married tonight.”
“Don’t worry about her, she just got a little emotional.
Anyway, where is your fianc??”
Dad asked, looking around.
“Oh, he is over there.”
She pointed near the bar.
And I froze.
Slowly and steadily, I followed everyone’s gaze.
Four men stood together, one of them stood with his back to us.
Is it…
him?
Seven years.
After seven years, I will come face to face to him.
I will have to look into those stormy gray pools…
I let out a shaky breath.
I needed air, I needed out.
Just as I was about to slip away, Tess called out for him.
“Caleb?”
My steps halted.
Caleb?
I glanced at the direction as that man turned around and a broad grin lightened his face.
Striding closer, he kissed Tess’s cheek and greeted Mom and Dad.
They linked arms, gazing at each other’s eyes with full of affection… I blinked.
A silent gasp slipped through my lips.
Caleb was the one Tess got engaged to?
Achilles’s cousin?
Now that ‘V’ in her ring made sense.
‘V’ for Valencian.
Caleb Valencian.
A pressure in my chest suddenly disappeared, filling it with air.
They weren’t together.